Team Spirit
Making the independents loyal.
Using independent contractors to outsource specific tasks can be
a smart business move. But most independent contractors won't
have the same degree of loyalty your employees do. Fortunately,
there are things you can do to make them feel like part of the
company--and strengthening their commitment will likely improve
their performance.
Gary Clinton, president of United Design Corp., a Noble,
Oklahoma, company that designs and makes giftware figurines, says
the key is in effective communication. He suggests sending regular
memos or holding in-person meetings with independent contractors to
let them know what's going on in the company and the importance
of their role in the process. You may also want to provide training
to help them do their jobs better and include them in company
social events.
Clinton stresses one important point: Always respect the line
between employee and independent contractor. "Independent
contractors must be truly independent," Clinton says. If you
treat them too much like employees, the IRS may conclude that they
are employees, which opens you to a wide range of potential
liabilities.
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